10 February 2000 Edition

RUC assault couple at gunpoint

10 February 2000

A North Belfast couple told An Phoblacht they feared for their lives when the RUC rammed their car and dragged them out of the vehicle at gunpoint. Free article

Sinn Féin calls on CIRA to disband

10 February 2000

Following the bomb explosion in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh on Sunday, 6 February, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness unequivocally condemned the attack by the self-styled Continuity IRA and called on them to disband. Free article

RUC assault officers face jail

10 February 2000

Three RUC officers and a British soldier may be jailed after being convicted of a number of charges, including attempting to pervert the course of justice, threatening to kill, assault and causing actual bodily harm. The presiding judge described the convictions as ``serious'' and if any custodial sentences are imposed it will be the first time any RUC officer has been jailed for a crime conducted while on duty. Free article

DUP low blow on hospital decision

10 February 2000

DUP Assembly member Iris Robinson has refused to withdraw sectarian comments in which she described Health Minister Bairbre de Brún's decision to site regional maternity services at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast as ``building a Catholic hospital for Catholic people''. Robinson's remarks, made during a speech to the DUP's Strangford constituency association last week, met angry responses from women's groups, politicians and health officials. Free article

Assembly Hails Glorious St Patrick

10 February 2000

In the short period of its existence, the Assembly in the Six Counties has rapidly adopted strange rituals for going about its business. Free article

Sinn Féin protest evictions

10 February 2000

Following the eviction of a North Belfast family from their home by the Halifax building society and further eviction threats by the Housing Executive over the past few weeks, Sinn Féin organised a picket outside the Headquarters of the Halifax Building Society on Wednesday, 2 February. Free article

Loyalists egg on Sinn Féin

10 February 2000

Despite coming under attack from loyalist fishermen during a visit to Portavogie, Sinn Fein Assembly members Francie Molloy and Gerry McHugh have called for politicians to unite to save the North's fishing communities. Free article

Partnership failures outweigh benefits

10 February 2000

The final elements of the new partnership agreement were settled this week but as An Phoblacht goes to print the actual detail of what has been agreed is not in the public domain, despite days of news coverage on the deal. Free article

Vodafone merger has ramifications for Ireland

10 February 2000

Europe's largest telecommunications company took its first steps this week after the long expected merger between British company Vodafone and the German communications company Mannesmann. Free article

Waste wars continue

10 February 2000

After the Louth County Manager's u-turn last week on refuse collection in Drogheda and the reinstatement of the town's binmen, council refuse collection has resumed. The council, however, is still threatening to bring in charges of £110 per annum, where previously householders did not pay any additional charges for the service. Free article


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